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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 4 - Central nervous system 
Notes:

Any drug not listed on the Formulary should be considered Non-Formulary - Not recommended for prescribing
04.10.01 Alcohol dependence
NICE CG100: Alcohol-use disorders: physical complications NICE CG115: Alcohol dependence and harmful alcohol use

Acamprosate 333mg GR tablets

Amber SPIS
Restricted Drug Restricted

 Only to be initiated by a specialist in drug and alcohol problems.

The usual maximum recommended treatment duration for acamprosate is 12 months, as outlined in the NICE guidelines for alcohol-use disorders. NB: If there is no reduction in alcohol consumption within 4 to 6 weeks of starting treatment, acamprosate should be discontinued.

Please note: The Shared Care Guidance for acamproate has now been retired, please refer to prescribing support document.

 

Entry reviewed: December 2025

BNF BNFc SPC
Acamprosate prescribing support document

Disulfiram (Antabuse®)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

Restricted - only to be prescribed by a specialist in drug and alcohol problems 

200mg Tablets

BNF BNFc SPC
NICE CG115: Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence

Nalmefene

Amber SPA
Restricted Drug Restricted
18mg Tablets
Restricted - only to be initiated by a specialist in drug and alcohol problems or for continuing treatment in accordance with NICE TA325
BNF BNFc SPC
NICE TA325: Nalmefene for reducing alcohol consumption in people with alcohol dependence

Naltrexone
(For alcohol dependence)

RED
Restricted Drug Restricted

50mg Tablets
Restricted - only to be prescribed by a specialist in drug and alcohol problems 

BNF BNFc SPC
Classifications
GREEN
May be initiated in any care setting
Amber SPA
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Amber SPIS
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
SCG
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
RED
Red medicines are designated as specialist only medicines which should only be prescribed by a specialist, usually within secondary care (either due to the requirement for specialist knowledge, long-term monitoring requirements, or restrictions that mean medicine supplies are only available to hospitals).
DNP
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
SELF
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.